Estimating Marketing Efficiency of Organic Farmers: Evidence from Districts of West Bengal, India

Abstract

The growing organic food market offers considerable trading opportunities for organic farmers in India. In this context, this article intends to find out whether the organic farmers are exploring these marketing opportunities in the three districts (namely, Purulia, Purba Bardhaman and Nadia) of West Bengal. Farm-level marketing efficiency is measured in a framework of data envelopment analysis. Evidence reveals that farmers’ marketing activities determine the level of marketing efficiency. Results show that organic farmers in Nadia district are relatively marketing efficient in comparison to the farmers in Purulia and Purba Bardhaman districts. Moreover, an attempt has been made to identify the determinants of marketing efficiency. The result shows that marketing efficiency is affected by the economic status, level of education, years of farming experience, size of landholding of the farmer household and the type of marketing arrangement.